Spike.



W. S. DANIELS.

SSSS E.

XXX/7%? Patented July 8, 1913.

A rromvn "UNE WINFIELD S. DANIELS, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

SPIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PalcntedJulyS, 191 3.

Application filed October 10, 1911. Serial No. 653,878.

To (all 'LU/LO/lb r'fma concern:

lie it known that- I, W 1N FIELD S. Damnns, citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Spikes, of which the following a specificatii'in.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in spikes'such as are used for fastening rails to ties.

The object of the invention is to provide a spike which when driven into a tie will not turn. A further object is to provide a spike which will present a greater surface to the wood of the tie than those now in common use.

which will require less material and possess a greater holding strength, also one which when driven into a tie having a soft center will not break but penetrate said center;

and further the provision of a spike having a tapered groove disposed longitudinally along its outer side.

A still further objectof the invention is to provide a spike thatv will be strong, durable andv eiiicicnt, simple and eoln 'iaratively inexpensive to produce, also one in which the several parts will not be likely to get out of working order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has relation to certain novel features of e mstructimi and operation, an example of which is described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the spike, Fig. E. is a sectional view of portions of a rail. and tie with the spike in position, Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line S-S of Fig. l, and Fig. i-

a cross sectional view on the line X--X of Fig.'2.

In the drawings the numeral 1. designatesa spike having a head 2 which is formed sub stantially the same as the head of the spike now in common use. The side of the spike over which the head hangs is termed the inner side and l have designated the same by the numeral 2 while the opposite side -t is knownas the outer side. The spike has the usual point i Myinvcntion consists in a groove 6 formed longitudinally in the outer side of the spike. This groove istxmcavcd in cross section, but at no point does it fUllll a complete halt Other features are the provision of a spike circle. The groove extends from a point 7 near the bottom edge of the point 5 up to a point 8 below the head 2. The point S is located a sutlicieut distance below the head so that: when the spike is driven into a tie" no portion of said groove will be exposed above the tie. the invention is the shape of the groove. By observing the drawings it will be noted that the groove tapers or is contracted loward its ,uppcr end-thus causing it to be considerably deeper at its portion adjacent the point 5 than at, its portion adjacent the head. As shown in Figs. 1. and 2. the lower end of the groove is terminated above the cutting edge of the point 5 so as not to interfere with the proper action of the same.

\Vhen the spike is driven into the tie indicated by 9 in Fig. 2, the wood is received in the groove very much the same as if an ordinary gouge was driven in said tie, the result being that the wood is'cutand not broken as where the ordinary spike is used. The wood received in the groove'torms a key or tongue thus acting as a guide and ()ne'ot' the main features of preventing the spike 'l'ronl turning while it is being driven. The groove tapering or diminishing toward its upper cnd pcr'mits lhc ucccssauv thickness of metal to give the required slrcnglh at the upper portion of the spike and also permits the spike to wedge into the tie as it is driven which would not be the case it' the groove had the same depth throughout its length.

Many times lll(',t.'tl1l(l' ot the lie is dccaycd or softand when the ordinary spike is driven into the tic this central portion is broken or cruuiblcd with the result that a large opening is made about the greater portion of the length ol' the spike and the latter has practically no holding strength. \Yhcrc the spike herein described is driven into such a tie the provision of the groove pcriuits said spike to cut through and not break the sot't" center of the tic with the result 'that prm'tically no opcuing is made around the spike and its holding cllicicncy is considerably greater than that oi the ordinary spike. Another advantage of the tapcrcd groove will be seen by observing Fig. 2 wherein it will be notcd that the wooden key formed by thev groove is inclined upward and outward. This being on the outer side of the spike will have a tendency to guide the spike toward the rail as it is driven which is very desirable as it brings the h ad the spike than it is at the head in the spike, 1 A

name to-th=is specification in the presence'of and shank of the spike into close engage ment with the=-fiange of the rail.

What I claim, is: v 1. A spike having in its outer sidea longitudinal groove concaved in gross section and being considerably deeper at the point of said groove being gradually tapered from its lower endtoward its upper end. a

2. A railway spike rectangular in crosssection and having its head projecting over one side, the opposite side of the spike being provided with a groove extending from a point near the driving point of the spike the groove.

upward whereby the entire bottom of the 15 groove is inclined outward and upward, the faces of the spike at each side of the groovebeing (somparatively broad and increasing in width gradually toward the upper end of 20 In testimony whereof I have signed my two-subscribing witnesses.

VVINFIELD S. DANIELS.

Witnesses: i JACK A. SQHLEY, J. M. HEFNER.

copies or this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ratents,

- Washington, D. G. 

